Disposable absorbent portable covering

ABSTRACT

A paper-thin disposable covering that is absorbent, moisture resistant, and portable, comprised of two or more layers of paper, cotton, or synthetic sheeting having air pockets and being coated with a bottom fluid-impervious surface, being particularly designed for attractive comfort, near imperceptibility, and discreet transport and disposal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates generally to a protective covering, andspecifically to a disposable, liquid-absorbent, paper-thin,soft-textured covering that maintains absorbency while protectingfabrics, bedding, linens, and any other materials from spilled liquidsthat could soil and possibly stain said materials, while at the sametime being so thin as to be nearly unnoticeable during use.

[0003] 2. Description of Prior Art

[0004] Various types of bed pads and coverings have been developed foruse by persons who are unable to prevent fluid discharge while in bed,whether because of incontinence, post-surgery wounds, or otherwise.These bed pads and coverings have been developed to replace rubber andvinyl sheeting, long known to be uncomfortable, hot, and malodorous forthe persons lying or sleeping on them.

[0005] Generally, the prior art related to bed pads and coverings haveemphasized their water-resistant nature, and thus they consist of atleast one layer of material that is intended to prevent waterpenetration completely or to reduce the amount of moisture thatpenetrates and one or more additional layers of thicker absorbentpadding materials. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,113,326, 3,60,894,4,961,982, 5,534,340, 5,252,374, and 4,097,943 describe variousconstructions for absorbent pad materials comprised of a permeable topcovering, a water-resistant bottom covering, and a water-absorbentcenter layer, preferably of fibrous material. Similar layered pads havebeen developed for bandage and wound dressing materials, such as in U.S.Pat. No. 3,545,442, but with the added feature of a top layer that isspecially adapted to avoid sticking to the wound.

[0006] In the prior art, bed pads and coverings have further emphasizedabsorbency and durability, and specifically the amount of fluid they canabsorb, the number of times they can be laundered without falling apart,and the integral strength of the materials used. Said prior art includesU.S. Pat. No. 5,099,532, which teaches a layered pad, one layer of whichis quilted to a second layer, which is stabilized with stitched strips,which in turn are heat-bonded to a third water-resistant layer. U.S.Pat. No. 4,045,833 teaches a layered pad with a water-impervious backingjoined to a unitary nonwoven fabric having concentrations of long andshort fibers throughout its thickness. US Pat. No. Re. 30,972 (reissueof U.S. Pat. No. 4,128,686) describes a pad comprised of a hydrophiliclayer comprised of a cross-laid fibrous web needled to form a felt and ahydrophobic layer.

[0007] One problem with the prior art is that the thickness of thepadding remains noticeable to the person lying on it. The layers ofabsorbent padding can create an uncomfortable bumpy surface for a personlying down on said bed pad or covering. In addition, the thickness andsize of these pads and coverings make transport and disposal of themdifficult and space-consuming. Said coverings and pads are intended tobe used for a fairly lengthy time, at least several hours if not longer,and so the thickness and absorbency of the padding is significant to thedesign, but less convenient and less attractive when utilized forshorter periods of time or for a single use. A third problem iscomplexity of manufacture in making layered pads of several differentmaterials bonded, sewn, or otherwise connected together such that theyare sufficiently durable to last under body weight and through frequentlaundering.

[0008] Various prior art have tried to solve the problem of keeping thepads and coverings from slipping while in use, but at the same timebeing easily removed to be laundered or thrown away and replaced. Someprior art provides a sheeting material to cover the water-resistantmaterials, taking into account the fact that, when said materials are indirect contact with the user, they can be uncomfortable because they arenot soft, often reflect the body heat of the user-, and can cause skinreactions, such as rashes and bed sores. U.S. Pat. No. 4,064,577 teachesa bed covering comprised of a nonwaterproof draw sheet bonded to awater-resistant panel that is further attached to a water-absorbentremovable pad using hooks and fasteners. U.S. Pat. No. 4,097,943 teachespressure-sensitive adhesive strips on the backing layer of a pad. U.S.Pat. No. 5,249,320 teaches a bed sheet and pad arrangement with a topsheet, absorbent central section, and waterproof bottom sheet. U.S. Pat.No. 4,922,565 describes a composite cover crib sheet comprised of awaterproof section covered by a fabric sheet secured to the crib by ahook and loop fastener. U.S. Pat. No. 5,068,936 teaches a disposablesheet, but does not provide for water-resistance or absorption. U.S.Pat. No. 5,701,617 teaches a bed sheet with a removable water-resistantcentral section having a water absorbent pad that can be changed whensoiled without having to change the entire sheet and having a coversheet held in place by a releasable attachment material. U.S. Pat. No.4,572,174 describes a bed pad that provides for a lubricated insertbetween two layers for purposes of reducing friction. All said prior artcontinues to provide for relatively thick layers of absorbent padding,and some show seamed inserts, any of which features can create anuncomfortable bumpy surface for a person lying down on said bed pad orcovering. In addition, the thickness, size, and fastening features ofsaid bed pads and coverings, many of which are entire bed sheets, maketransport and disposal of them difficult and space-consuming.

[0009] Undergarment pads have been developed to provide security againstaccidents for incontinence. Prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 5,252,374,which introduced an underpad for incontinent patients demonstrating atotal of six layers of materials compressed together. The absorbenttissue layers constitute at least ten plies of tissues. U.S. Pat. No.4,097,943 discloses an absorbent pad comprised of three layers ofmaterial with the absorbent fabric core consisting of four plies oftissues. Such pads share the same drawbacks as the bed pads andcoverings mentioned above, in that they are thick and would be not makea comfortable surface for a recumbent person.

[0010] Portable pads have long been used to protect babies whose diapersare being changed away from home. These pads typically have a paddedinside layer completely covered with a pliable plastic vinyl outerlayer. The thickness of the pad makes it difficult to fold or roll itfor transport, requiring it to take up a large amount of space in alarge diaper bag. The plastic vinyl layer is cold, slippery, anduncomfortable when in contact with the baby's skin, making thediaper-changing process more difficult for the mother. For the samereasons, said pads would also not be comfortable as a protectivecovering for the bedding materials of a recumbent person.

[0011] Because prior inventions focus mainly on the use of pads byincontinent and bedridden persons, no emphasis has been given toprotective coverings needed of one-time usage before disposal. Saidcoverings do not need to last for an extended time under the weight of aperson, they do not need to be thick, and they do not need to retainsignificant amounts of liquid for lengthy periods of time beforedisposal. Nor do they need to be laundered because they can be thrownaway immediately after use.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0012] The present invention is comprised of a thin, water-resistantcovering that is used once before disposal. Unlike conventional bedpads, this invention introduces a design to decrease the thickness whileadding versatility and maintaining absorbency and durability. Thisinvention is envisioned in a variety of shapes, including (but notlimited to) rectangular, square, round, oval, and heart-shaped. Theinvention is comprised of two or more layers of paper, cotton, orsynthetic fabric. Various types of materials already available can beused for manufacturing the present invention. It is preferable that thematerial used be a soft-textured woven or nonwoven fabric or paper withfilaments or microfibers that have been rendered hydrophilic by anadditive during the manufacturing process. This creates a top surfacefor the present invention that serves as the liquid pervious layerproviding a soft touch to skin while absorbing body secretions. Ifdesired, the material used can be made in various colors or stamped orotherwise colored with designs, words, or logos to add consumer appeal.

[0013] The surface of the bottom layer of the present invention iscovered with a film that is liquid impervious, preferably made from aplastic barrier material such as polypropylene, as is the case withpresently known underpads. This film layer is bonded by heat or othermeans to the bottom layer. The layers are pressed together to become asingle two- or three-ply sheet and are embossed with patterns to formair pockets, increasing absorbency. The layers can be further securedtogether by means of a pressure seam at the edges of the covering. It ispreferable to emboss, stamp, or otherwise press patterns into thematerials after being seamed, which patterning will be impressed intoeach layer and will serve to hold the layers together with little or nomovement of the layers when pressure is applied to the top or bottom ofthe covering.

[0014] It is an object of the present invention to provide an absorbentprotective covering that is thin and light in weight for ease oftransportation and storage. The present invention is made of materialsthat are extremely light in weight and ultra-thin, allowing the coveringto be folded into a compact size that fits easily and discreetly into apurse, bag, or pocket for transportation. Hundreds of these coveringsmay be stacked and stored in a small space, such as a cabinet in ahospital emergency room. Said coverings may be used to protect linensduring love-making, to provide a sanitary surface for diaper-changing,and even to provide a temporary sanitary surface for inspection andimmediate bandaging of a wound. A large number of said coverings can becarried in backpacks by campers and hikers and transported withemergency medical technician crews, even into remote places.

[0015] It is a further object of the present invention to provide anabsorbent protective covering that is comfortable and almostimperceptible to a recumbent person lying on it, while also beingabsorbent and liquid impervious for the protection of an underlyingsurface against becoming wet, stained, or otherwise contaminated bybodily secretions. While conventional under pads and bed pads have athick construction, the present invention is as thin as a bed sheet andhas no lumps or bumps that are noticeable to a recumbent person lying onit. The soft-textured side of the present invention is placed upwards,with the water-resistant film placed downwards against the bed or othersurface, eliminating the discomfort of lying against a slippery, cold,sweat-inducing vinyl, rubber, or other water-resistant substance. Thisplacement has the added advantage of providing slight friction betweenthe filmed and patterned surface of the covering and the bed or othersurface so that the covering does not slip when body weight moves on andover it.

[0016] It is a further object of the present invention to provide aprotective absorbent covering that is inexpensive and fast tomanufacture and that is uncomplicated to package and use. This inventionhas no belts, straps, or other attachments for securing it to a bed orother surface because the water impervious film and the patterning serveto cause sufficient friction as to prevent slippage of the covering forthe short time it is intended to be used. The manufacturing processalready available for this invention is simple and efficient, as two orthree layers of absorbent materials can be dyed, laid out, stamped,embossed, film-coated, and cut into prearranged shapes with minimalexpense and effort.

[0017] It is a further object of the present invention to provide aprotective absorbent covering that requires minimal time and space fordisposal. The thinness of the covering has an additional advantage inthat the present invention can be easily used as a towelette forcleaning liquid off a person's skin. Disposal is quick, as the coveringcan be simply rolled into a ball and thrown into the trash. The thinnessof the covering reduces the space consumed in disposal, making it moreenvironmentally friendly than thicker padding.

[0018] It is a further object of the present invention to emphasizeconvenience of use and comfort. Many prior bed and under pads have hadan emphasis on absorbency and durability, tending to make them bulky anduncomfortable. The goal of the present invention is to provide a modicumof liquid absorbency, while promoting convenience of use and comfort. Itis needed for the consumer market where total liquid absorbency is notas much an issue as convenience, attractiveness, and comfort.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019]FIG. 1 Top 3-D view of the present invention

[0020]FIG. 2 Top magnified view of the present invention

[0021]FIG. 3 Cutaway side view of the present invention

[0022]FIG. 4 Present inventions in stowed configuration

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023]FIG. 1 is a 3-D drawing of the present invention from a top view.The invention is shown in its preferred rectangular shape, althoughother shapes can certainly be made if desired. For example, the cornerscould be rounded or the covering could be made in an oval shape. Arectangular or square shape is preferred because of the ease ofmanufacture. The covering may also vary in size, ranging fromapproximately 8 to 40 inches in width by 12 to 40 inches in length, witha preferred size of about 12 to 14 inches in width by 18 to 25 inches inlength.

[0024] The invention is shown with a striped parallel ridge pattern, theridges being formed by pressing or embossing the layers altogether.Various patterns or designs may be used, but the size of the patternscreated would preferably remain small. By pressing or embossing thepatterns into all of the layers together, the patterns serve tointerlock the layers. Thus, the smaller the patterning, the lessmovement there will be between layers and the more stable and durablethe covering will be overall. Examples of other possible embossinginclude dimples and round shapes.

[0025] In FIG. 2, a section of the present invention is magnified in adrawing that shows the striped patterning of parallel ridges, again froma top view. The embossing or pressed patterning need not be preciselyeven, but a careful patterning will enhance attractiveness for theconsumer. The layers of material may also be colored for attractiveness.The striped pattern of parallel ridges (1) is particularly advantageousbecause it increases the roughness of the water-impervious side. Thus,when in use, the water-impervious side, which is resting on themattress, will be less likely to slide with the weight of a moving bodyon, instead remaining in place with the aid of friction. The ridges alsoprovide channels on the upper side of the present invention forcapturing and diverting water spilled on it, which in turn reducesliquid run-off and increases the absorption of the liquid into theunderlying layers.

[0026]FIG. 3 is a cross-section of the present invention, showing onepreferred embodiment as a two-ply (10) covering with a water imperviousfilm coating (12). A third layer may be added for additional absorbency.The weight and thickness of a third layer is so minimal as to be nearlyimperceptible, while the improved protection and absorbency is of someadvantage. The entire covering weighs about one ounce or less, whetherin the two- or three-ply embodiment, and it is about 1 millimeter orless in thickness.

[0027] The pattern or design that has been pressed or embossed into thelayers (1) can be clearly seen in to be interlocking. For purposes ofeasy viewing in this drawing, the layers have been pulled slightly apartfor better viewing. When pressed together, these layers fit tightlyridge within ridge. The top side of the covering (20) can be seen tohave small parallel channels that will divert and hold liquid spilledonto it for easy absorption into the underlying layers. The bottom sideof the covering (30) can be seen to have a roughness created by saidridges. Without the roughness, the water-impervious film on the bottomside will be slick, having no means to create friction to hold the padin place under moving body weight placed on top of it.

[0028] In FIG. 4, the present invention is shown folded into itself forpurposes of storage and transport. This invention is paper-thin, andtherefore can be folded within itself any number of times and in anynumber of configurations, and it can even pressed for furthercompaction. It is easily packaged in cellophane, plastic, paper, cloth,or sanitary bag or other wrapping, and can be balled or folded up andthrown away for easy disposal. When folded and compressed slightly, thepresent invention is 3 to 4 millimeters in thickness.

What is claimed is:
 1. A pad for use on a supporting surface of anarticle of bedding or other place where a person lays down, that iscomprised of two layers, an upper thin layer in one or more plys ofsoft, water-absorbent material, and a backing layer of water-imperviousmaterial, so attached such that air pockets may form along the interfacebetween layers, said backing possessing ridges indentations or othersurface deviations from planarity to provide frictional resistance toslippage during use.
 2. A pad as in claim 1 that is easily foldable intoitself and into a small size for ease of packaging, storage, andtransport.
 3. A pad as in claim 1 which has impressed ridges andvalleys, stripe, dimples, or other impressed surface irregularities, toimprove frictional holding of the pad in use.
 4. A pad as in claim 1wherein the absorbent material is cotton or paper.
 5. A pad as in claim1 wherein the absorbent material is a synthetic material capable ofadsorbing water.
 6. A pad as in claim 1 wherein a hydrophilic additivehas been added to the absorbent material.
 7. A pad as in claim 1 whereinthe water-impervious material is polypropylene or polyethylene.
 8. A padas in claim 1 wherein the layers are connected by weaving.
 9. A pad asin claim 1 wherein the layers are connected by stitching.
 10. A pad asin claim 1 wherein the layers are connected by a thermal process.
 11. Apad as in claim 1 wherein the layers are connected by impressed seaming.12. A method for protecting the mattress and conventional bed linen of abed, the method comprising laying a sheet of disposable, waterproof, andridged material on top of said linen or sheet, using said bed for normaluses, and removing said sheet after usage, and disposing of said sheet.